Sports Editor

Among the litany of axioms to which he subscribes, Marshall head football coach Paul Thomas is hoping that the one which holds that a team makes its greatest gains between the first and second weeks holds true.

Boy howdy, it better be, or else the Owls may be in for a long, painful season.

Nobody claimed that Marshall was going to be a powerhouse this year, but the 48-14 blowout it suffered last week during its opener against Chillicothe was disappointing to Thomas, his staff and the players -- all of whom have gotten an earful since then from a community which has long prided itself on its gridiron tradition.

"I don't think they were happy with their performance last week," Thomas said about the Owls' attitude. "I think they're ready to play."

The Hornets were tough, but Grain Valley -- ranked No. 10 in the latest Class 4 poll and coming off a semifinal appearance in last year's Class 3 playoffs -- may prove just as formidable.

"They're big up front, with a couple of kids like ours -- 300-pound linemen," Thomas noted. The Eagles use a two-back, twins-open set and throw the ball around, with "some good receivers -- really good receivers."

Junior quarterback Austin Gouldsmith threw for over 300 yards in last week's 59-41 victory over Lincoln Prep, a club which the Owls dominated in the season opener the previous two years. If Grain Valley has a chink, it's youth -- especially on defense. That, however, doesn't mean it will be easy to attack.

"They fly around to the football and you don't really know where they're coming from," Thomas said. "You can't hesitate. You have to lock up and get going."

What Thomas was hoping would be a strength this season, the offensive line, let it's youth show last week, so "we've been working on staying low and not standing up so much."

Obviously, a defense which gave up 414 total yards -- 340 on the ground -- and seven touchdowns will have to improve.

"We've got to tackle better and keep our pad level down," Thomas said. "If we do those things, I think it will be a good football game for us."

Will the Owls of Week 2 look markedly superior than those of the debut?

"I'd like to think so," Thomas asserted.